93-year-old mum raises hundreds of pounds for staff at Chesterfield care home in space of a day

During the coronavirus lockdown, Jean Fox has been using her spare time crocheting and knitting special 'Front Line Hero Bears' to raise money for staff at The Green Care Homes, Hasland, Chesterfield.

Jean decided to use her creative passion to genuinely thank the staff for their efforts and sacrifice, in continuing to look after all the residents currently living at the care home.

She has not seen her family since mid March due to the lockdown measures, and she insists that she knows many of the care workers will also be separated from their loved ones.

Jean says staff have been doing everything possible to protect the residents from the coronavius, which she is so grateful for and sees as a further reason for supporting staff with donations.

She is also knitting smaller bears, which staff are buying for their children, to raise money for the residents fund.

The bears are dressed in protective scrubs, with a removable hat and mask. The design of the bear is with kind permission for reproduction by ‘Knitting Projects’.

Director of The Green Care Home, Tarun Jaiswal, said: “Jean’s knitting is a beacon of light, an inspiration, and a wonderful accomplishment. Jean will be very busy with the orders already placed!”

Members of Jean’s family have said: “She’s got that ‘war time’ spirit of, this will all be okay and let’s make the best of it, and I’ll use this time to do something useful. She is an absolute inspiration. She’s still very sharp for her age and very able, that is why she’s just got on with the project she has made for herself.

“In the past, she was a primary school teacher and she will have known that a lot of the carers will have children too. With that link in mind, she would definitely remember the kids and use them as motivation. We’re so proud of her.”

You can donate to Jean’s cause at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/frontlineherobear?utm_id=2&utm_term=QgryWNA3P